What flowers bloom all year?

Joyce StarrUpdated January 19, 2018

Gardeners desiring year-round colour in their gardens should consider planting flowering evergreens. They do not drop foliage, and some species flower continuously throughout the year. Plants that bloom year-round come in a variety of shapes and sizes with various flower colours. Choices include continuously blooming trees, vines, perennials and shrubs. Consider the environmental tolerances of a particular plant when selecting a planting site for proper growth and flowering.

Flowering shrubs

Year-round flowering shrubs add a display of colour to the landscape. Many work well as specimens, grown in containers or used as privacy hedges. They also add height to perennial gardens, and many attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Heights, foliage size and textures are as diverse as the colours and shapes of blooms. Some species, through pruning, are trainable as smallish trees. Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) adds a tropical look with its large, year-round flowers in a variety of shades. Ixora (Ixora coccinea) blooms in clusters of yellow or coral flowers. Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) blooms all year with clusters of small white flowers. Edible plumlike fruits follow the flowering stage. Weeping lantana (Lantana depressa) produces small bouquets of yellowish-white flowers throughout the year.

Trees

Adding trees that flower all year make a colourful statement in the landscape. They bring height to the area and are a colourful addition to an otherwise bland garden. Year-round flowering tree species range from smallish ones suitable for patios and containers, to those large enough for specimens. Flower colour and sizes are as diverse as foliage size and texture. Many flowering trees attract various birds including hummingbirds and butterflies. Jatropha (Jatropha integerrima) is a smallish tree suitable for containers or a specimen. It blooms all year with clusters of coral red flowers. Black mangrove tolerates salty conditions making it a suitable choice for coastal landscapes. It produces small white flowers all year. Fiddlewood (Citharexylum fruiticosum) is a smallish tree that fills with plumes of tiny white flowers year-round.

Flowering vines

Year-round flowering vines work well on arbors, trellis, fences, as well as in containers. As with many flowering plants, some species attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Yellow allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) produces bright yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms all year. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea cvs.) has many cultivars producing flowers in a variety of colours. The plant grows as a thorny vine or if left unpruned as a shrub. Pink allamanda (Mandevilla cvs.) also has a variety of cultivars. The vine is showy with its pink, trumpet-shaped flowers blooming all year.

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About the Author

For over 25 years, Joyce Starr has owned businesses dealing with landscape & design, lawn maintenance, specialty herbs and a garden center. She holds certificates in landscape design and xeriscaping. Starr shares her passion for nature in her writing, publishing articles on horticulture, outdoor recreation, travel as well as business.